Super Eagles ‘Need More Time’ To Improve – Coach Peseiro
Super Eagles of Nigeria Head Coach, José Peseiro, says his team “need more time” to improve, even though they were the better side against Sierra Leone and deserved to win the match on Thursday.
Nigeria beat Sierra Leone 2-1 in their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) opening qualifying match at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, in Abuja.
Nigeria’s first-half comeback on the way to claiming victory, handed Peseiro his first win as head coach after two International Friendly losses against Mexico and Ecuador, in their USA Tour.
“We had barely six or seven practice sessions. We should have had three or four more, but due to the late arrival of some of the players,” Peseiro said.
“The players need more time, I don’t think the team was fresh enough for the game. But our team deserved to win. We created more opportunities.”
While expressing joy at his first victory with the team, Peseiro acknowledged that there was still room for some improvement.
“I am very happy because the team won, but the game of football is very strange because the team played much better against Mexico and Ecuador but lost,” Peseiro added.
“We created over five or six goal scoring chances in those friendly games. In Thursday’s game, we were better than Sierra Leone, but I think our team, this squad, these players, can play much better.”
“Although the visitors tried their best to score a second goal, the closest they got was a clear offside even though there was no VAR,” Super Eagles head coach added.
“In the second half, when I substituted Sadiq (Umar) for (Oghenekaro) Etebo, you could see that we controlled more of the game. However, the visitors looked fresher in the last 10 minutes and pushed us, but we were able to hold on for the win.”
“So, I think we were the better side and deserved to win the match. But we can improve and play much better because we have the quality and ability to do so,” Peseiro concluded.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will next face off against Sao Tome and Principe in the second round of their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, at the Grand Stade de Agadir in Southern Morocco, on the 13th of June, 2022.
Sao Tome & Principe got their Group A campaign underway with a 1-5 loss at the hands of Guinea-Bissau at the same Stade Adrar last Thursday.
The Super Eagles will be looking for a result in a bid to keep the momentum going, as a victory will boost the morale of the new technical crew, the players, and of course the fans all across Nigeria.
Chidi Nwoke/NAN.
